Advancing Accessibility Standards Research Program: Call for proposals - Invitation to apply for funding

Terms used on this page

Accessibility

Accessibility means barrier-free access. It gives every person an equal opportunity to participate in society—regardless of disability.

Accessibility standard

Standards guide the activities of organizations in a way that is consistent across sectors. It means that people can expect the same level of service or the same quality of products. Accessibility standards are intended to remove barriers. They ensure that people with disabilities can fully and equitably participate in society.

Barrier

A barrier is anything that makes it harder for someone with a disability or functional limitation to participate fully and equitably in society. Barriers come in many forms. They may be physical, architectural, technological, or attitudinal. They may relate to information or communication. They may also be a result of a policy or practice. 

Disability

The Accessible Canada Act defines disability as “any impairment, including a physical, mental, intellectual, cognitive, learning, communication, or sensory impairment—or a functional limitation—whether permanent, temporary, or episodic in nature, or evident or not, that, in interaction with a barrier, hinders a person’s full and equal participation in society.”

National disability organization

These organizations help people with disabilities participate in society. Under this program, they must have a national mandate and conduct activities in 4 or more provinces or territories. They may work in partnership with other organizations or have offices in different provinces or territories.

Partnership

Partnerships are collaborative arrangements between an organization that received funding and an individual or another organization. They can include both financial and in-kind contributions. Partners can’t be a member of the applicant’s organization. Partnerships can include collaborations with any of the following:

• other research organizations with complementary mandates
• organizations that specialize in certain aspects of research (for example, data collection, survey facilitation, development of specialized software, financial matters)

Research priorities

Specific priority research areas 

The effect of climate change on people with disabilities

Climate change refers to long-term shifts in average climate conditions. This includes temperature and weather pattern changes in a region over a long period of time. 

The impacts of climate change are complex and touch on most aspects of society. Yet, it doesn’t affect all people in the same way. Climate change affects some communities disproportionally, including people with disabilities. This research priority is about ensuring that:

• all people in Canada are included equally in preparing for the impacts of climate change
• factors that make individuals and communities more vulnerable to these impacts are identified and addressed
• efforts to address climate change are fair and inclusive 

Climate change and crises bring many challenges. We can reduce vulnerability to these challenges by making sure that everyone, including those with disabilities, is considered and their needs are addressed. 

The impact of legal capacity on access to federal or federally regulated programs and services

This research priority refers to the impact that legal capacity can have on the ability of a person with disabilities to access federal or federally regulated programs and services. It also refers on reducing barriers that prevent people from accessing services because of their legal capacity.

“Legal capacity” generally means a person is recognized by law and can:

• make decisions about their own life
• exercise their rights
• access civil systems and court systems
• enter into contracts
• speak on their own behalf

 A person with capacity can understand the information needed to make a decision. They are also able to realize they may be held accountable for such decisions.

However, a person can be found to lack legal capacity. This means they can lose the right to make decisions for themselves. This could apply to a specific instance or period of time, or it could be permanent. In that case, someone else will make decisions for them and may be held accountable for those decisions.

“Federal or federally regulated programs and services” means any  programs and services offered by the federal government or federally regulated organizations. These programs and services help Canadians meet their financial, personal, social, and emotional needs. They may support either individuals or businesses.

Office furniture and its design

This research priority refers to ensuring office furniture is designed in a way that helps people with disabilities perform their work-related tasks efficiently and comfortably, in line with their individual needs.

Office furniture is any type of equipment used in an office environment. The equipment helps workers have a functional and comfortable workspace that meets their needs.

Plain language in contract writing

This research focuses on ensuring that people with disabilities can have access to plain language contract documents without losing important information.

Contracts, which are legally binding agreement between 2 or more people or organizations, are often economic exchange of goods and services. However, they are usually written with legal terms and rarely simplified in plain language. 

The International Plain Language Federation defines plain language as follows:

“A communication is in plain language if its wording, structure, and design are so clear that the intended audience can:

• easily find what they need to
• understand what they find, and
• use that information.”

Plain language fosters clear, accessible, and inclusive communication. It helps ensure that everyone, including people with disabilities, understand information easily. It also ensures that everyone can access and read critical information.

Travel experience at the federal level; for example, travel by air, train, ferry, and bus (when the bus or ferry route crosses a provincial border), including the experience of people with cognitive disabilities

This research priority focuses on identify, prevent, and remove barriers in travel experiences at the federal level for all, including people with disabilities. Everyone is entitled to an accessible travel journey that respects their needs. 

Travel experience means all levels of the transportation journey. This includes:

• at the departure point
• during travel
• during passenger connections
  • to the same mode of transportation
  • to other modes of (federal-level) transportation
• at the destination

Travel journey refers to the movement of both people and their belongings, including any accessibility-related devices.

Travel at the federal level can mean:

• methods of transportation that are under federal jurisdiction, such as travel by air or train
• interprovincial journeys (for example, bus or ferry travel that crosses provincial or territorial borders)

There are common areas where people with disabilities may experience barriers to accessibility when travelling. These include, but aren’t limited to:

• paths of travel (for example, from parking or drop-off zones to terminals)
• washrooms
• emergency egress (exit)
• luggage carousels
• security screenings
• communications (including terminal and gate announcements, boarding information, in-service entertainment and communication, and general communication with employees)
• customer services
• online services and technologies, including:
  • websites
  • self-service counters
  • check-in processes
• boarding, including the handling of assistive devices, shuttles, and transfers
• services such as service counters, food kiosks, and retail shops

Priority areas identified in the Accessible Canada Act

Built environment

This research priority refers to the need to make built environment accessible.

A built environment is a physical area built by people for human activity. This includes buildings and urban spaces where people live, work, play, or visit.

For example, an accessible design removes barriers to accessibility for individuals who:

• Use mobility devices. For example, designs that include elevators, ramps, and automatic doors and that ensure adequate space.
• Have sensory or cognitive needs. For example, designs that remove barriers by:
  • using lighting, sounds, or textures
  • limiting or removing scents or causes of sensory overload
  • providing visual, auditory, or tactile cues
• Require wayfinding assistance. For example:
  • visual signage and cues such as symbols, large print, and contrast
  • audible or tactile signage and cues, such as Braille and textures

Communication, other than information and communication technologies

This research priority refers to ensuring that people with disabilities have access to communication tools that support both giving and receiving information. 

Communication is a 2-way process that happens when people give and receive information in face-to-face interactions. It also includes:

• reading and understanding written information (such as on websites and social media)
• completing and signing forms and documents

It excludes the development of the tools themselves. For example, providing access to:

• different communication methods (such as in person, on the phone, in writing, online, or via video)
• alternative format (such as accessible websites, print, Braille, plain language texts), and processes such as an electronic signature option
• sign language interpretation (American Sign Language, Langue des signes québécoise, Indigenous Sign Language)

Design and delivery of programs and services

This relates to the need for organizations to consider accessibility when planning, creating, implementing, and delivering programs and services. An important aspect of this is involving persons with disabilities in the design and delivery process.

Employment

This research priority refers to accessibility in the context of employment. For example:

• having accessibility features in the workplace (such as offering flexible schedules and providing access to accessible technology)
• eliminating barriers related to attitudes in the workplace (due to, for example, discrimination, lack of knowledge, or lack of awareness training)
• making recruitment, retention, and promotion more accessible by, for example:
  • including accessibility features in the hiring process
  • correcting situations where few or no persons with disabilities have been hired or serve in management roles
• providing accessible employment for youth with disabilities transitioning from school to work

Employment is when someone receives money in exchange for work for an employer.

Information and communication technologies

This refers to any communication device that enables people to access, store, transmit, understand, or use information. These technologies include:

• radio, television, cell phones, satellite systems
• computer and network hardware
• services such as video conferencing and distance learning
• analogue technology, such as paper communication
• any form of technology that transmits information

This research priority refers to projects that address technology-related barriers that affect the accessibility of a technology that facilitates communication. It excludes projects aimed at developing such technologies.

This research priority relates to the need for organizations to consider accessibility and barriers when buying goods, services, or facilities that people with disabilities will be using.

Procurement of goods, services, and facilities

This research priority focuses on buying goods, services, and facilities by and for the federal government, for the use of the federal government and Canadians.

Transportation

This refers to the action of transporting someone or something from one destination to another, or the process of being transported.

This research priority relates to the accessibility of transportation policies and programs. It also refers to providing access to, and the accessibility of, transportation modes that are federally regulated.